A new report on Pennsylvania
hospitals shows significant
drops in death and readmission
rates across the state.
However the data shows that
the mortality rate is higher
than expected at UPMC for six
medical conditions.
They include heart and respiratory
failure, sepsis, and stroke.
Conemaugh Memorial in Johnstown
also has higher than expected
death rates for those conditions
and one more illness.
UPMC Altoona says that's because
the larger hospitals take the sickest
patients.
Dr. David Burwell is the Vice President
of Clinical Quality and Compliance at
UPMC Altoona.
"We receive patients from approximately
11 regional hospitals in addition to
our large amount of skilled nursing
facilities in our region. We accept
these patients because we have the
technological know-how and enhanced
capability at our hospitals."
Dr. Burwell says UPMC Altoona recently
opened a new stroke intensive care
unit and has hired specialists in
advanced stroke and heart failure
therapies.
He says the hospital's internal data
shows improvement in several areas
and does not show higher than expected
death rates.
Other hospitals in the region had
higher than expected death rates for
a lesser number of medical conditions.
Data showed Mt. Nittany with higher
than expected mortality rates for
abnormal heartbeat and stroke and
Conemaugh Nason with higher than
expect death rates for infectious
pneumonia and sepsis.